About Clement (Aldridge) Arledge

Clement was named in his father's 1724 will, but was not a legatee of the land in Wiccocomoco Parish that was given to brothers William and John. Graham Louer (personal correspondence) suggests that Clement may have been the son of William and his second wife Sarah. However, I have not seen evidence to support this, and it seems much more likely, based upon the events that transpired after William's death, that Clement was the son of Alice Fallin.

Clement Arledge (son of William and Alice), born c. 1708, sold his land in Northumberland Co. VA on 9 May 1743, and removed from the area.

Tacy Arledge, Laura Frankhauser and Virginia Stout, in "History and Descendants of Isaac Arledge" (1981) write that brothers Clement and William moved to NC following their father's death. "There is a land grant to William in Bertie Co, NC dated 1726. Part of that county later became Granville County, which has land records for Clement. William and Clement were still living in Granville County in the 1760s, where Clement probably died after 1790."

Is there a will for Clement Arledge??

Teri Allred <TCAllred@aol.com> wrote in Feb. 1998, providing a clue that either this Clement ARLEDGE (or perhaps a son named Clement) was living in HALIFAX CO, NC in the 1760's. We should look in Halifax Co, NC for a possible will. Teri wrote:

"In my old notes, I found four deeds in the 1764-1765 time-frame between Clement Arledge and others, recorded in Halifax Court, NC records. Two are of particular interest. On 15 Oct. 1764, Dolling Jones of Halifax County sold 100 acres of land where William Bobbitt formerly lived [Buflow Branch] to CLEMENT ARLEDGE, witnessed by James Thompson, Francis Bell and Drusilla Thompson, proved by James Thompson, Halifax Court.

At January Court, 1765, CLEMMENT ARLEDGE and James Thompson of Bute County sold 260 acres to John Austin Finnie of Surry County [North Carolina].

Those who have done research in Northumberland County are probably aware that there were some connections to Thompsons there, also."

Teri continued: "I have been working on the family of Clemmons Allred who married Sylvania Cude or Cood recently. His first name was also spelled "Clement" in the records. He got married in Randolph County, NC in 1827. His parents are not known at this time, though he lived next door to Robert and Nancy Allred in 1850, Randolph County. At one time [1839] Clement "Allread" sold some land in Guilford County, NC to Robert Julian. His wife's family was living there at the time, though she was believed to have been born in Randolph County also."

Note from PW: The existence of parallel families of Allred, Arledge and Aldridge in the Randolph County, NC area during this period--with similar naming patterns, in some cases--provides a real challenge for those researching in these areas to distinguish which person a particular record is referring to, due to the irregular spellings of the census takers and court clerks.

Arledge, Frankhauser and Stout continue, "Clement and Ann are believed to be the parents of Isaac Arledge, born about 1736 in NC. Isaac was married to a Susannah, named as his "true and loving wife" in his will, filed August 1818 in Randolph Co, NC. ...."

Did Clement have sons other than Isaac? Finding Clement's will would certainly help to clarify many things about this branch of the Arledge family. In addition to Isaac, there are references to a Hicks, Thomas, Henry and William who are all probable sons of Clement, though without a will naming them as such, we do not have solid proof.

"It is very possible that William and his brother Clement Arledge settled in what was then Bertie County, NC. One William had a land grant in Bertie County in the year 1726. Edgecombe was formed from Bertie in 1741, and Granville from edgecombe in 1746. Franklin and Warren were later formed from Bute, which was formed in 1764 and abolished 1779, which was in the same locality.

"In the land deeds of Granville County, Clement ALDRIDGE and Clement ARLEDGE have the same property, and they are one and the same person. The same for William ALDRIDGE and William AKERIDGE. Records of old Bute County may be found in Warren, and some are in Franklin County. William and Clement were living in Granville County in 1760's. In the year 1761, Earl Granville granted to Thomas TURNER (Deed Bk E, p. 175, Granville Co, NC) vacant land on NC Fishing Creek adjoining CAPPS, ALDRIDGE, THOMAS along Peter SANTSING's line and Francis SANTSING's line adjoining JONES and SMART lines. This appears that one of the ALDRIDGEs was already living there.

"In Granville County in the year 1762 Francis CAPPS deeded to Clement ARLEDGE of same county in the consideration of the sum of Eighteen pounds gold and silver coin for 300 acres of land being a survey taken by James Sentry, lying on the head of Bufelow Creek (Deed Bk. F P. 152 Granville Co, NC). Another land deed from Lewis COLLINS to William ACRIDGE "Arledge" in 1763 in Granville County on both sides of the west prong of Grassy Creek. This land [had been] granted to Collins by Earl Granville.

"After 1763 to 1790 there are no more deeds in Granville County pertaining to ARLEDGEs. Bute was formed in 1764 and abolished in 1779...in Warren County, a deed from Dolling and Lucy JONES to Clement ARLEDGE dated 1764 [Warren Co Deed Book A, p. 96] and a deed from Barsheba to Clement ARLEDGE dated 1765 (Deed Book I p. 9). ...The 1790 census for Warren County [does not turn up any Arledges, nor does the 1800 census for Franklin County], so we may assume the Arledges had moved to other parts of the country by this time."

Deed Book A p. 169 William Johnson, Esq Sheriff of Bute Co to John Austin Finnie of Surry Co VA 1 Apr 1765 Ref is made to order of Allen Jones, Clerk of Ct of Halifax Co 1 Sept 1764 for property of Jos. Thompson to be sold for debt to William Tabb. Land on ridge on Meeting House Path to Buffalo Branch bought from CLEM ARLEDGE. Finnie was highest bidder ar Sheriff's sale held 30 Jan 1765. reg 2 Jul 1765

Deed Book A p. 307 CLEMENT ARLEDGE & Jas Thompson to John Austin Finnie of Surry Co VA 9 Sept 1765 25 pds Procl. money for 2 tracts of land: 1) 260 a on NS Great Fishing Creek nr meeting house path adj ARLEDGE and Turner; 2) 300 a survey by James Sensing at head of Buffalo Creek incl land that belonged to Jos. Thompson taken in execution and sold by Major Wm Johnson, Wit David Ross, James Sensing reg 19 Aug 1766

Deed Book 3 p. 429: 10 Feb 1772 Francis Capps of Bute Co to John Austin Finnie of Surry CO VA 10 pds VA money for 100 a adj Joshua Capps, Heaslewood, other land he had sold Finnie and land Finnie had bought from Clement ALDRIGE Wit Jas Moore, Jacob Mosley reg 6 May 1772

Bute County Court Minutes

2nd Tues in February 1769 A deed of bargain and sale from Benjamin Thompson to Zacharaiah Thompson for 150 acres of land was proved by the oath of Clement ARLEDGE a witness thereto and ordered the same to be registered.